Things to do in Karamay

Located in Urho, Karamay, the World Devil City boasts unique and magnificent Yardang landforms, but opinions on this attraction seem to vary. We felt the overall experience was alright, and riding the little train through it at sunset was quite enjoyable.

Heading towards the vast wilderness of northern Xinjiang, the first magnificent stretch of the Duku Highway begins at the Dushanzi Grand Canyon. This hidden realm, stretching along the edge of the Junggar Basin, is a monumental fissure etched into the earth by the winds and snows of the Tianshan Mountains and the waters of the Kuitun River over millions of years, concealing the unique desolation and grandeur of Northwest China. Upon first glimpse of the canyon, one is struck by its utterly primal awe. On the flat, boundless Gobi Desert, the earth abruptly breaks apart, a deep ravine plunging into the sky and stretching for tens of kilometers without end. A vertical drop of two hundred meters creates a breathtaking spectacle of cliffs; layers upon layers of sandstone and conglomerate walls are steep and rugged, covered with folds eroded by flowing water and wind, their intricate patterns resembling the earth's unfolding veins, or the countless strokes of time, rough yet powerfully imbued. Layers of gray-black, yellowish-brown, and reddish-brown rock stacked upon each other on the cliff face are silent imprints of millions of years of geological changes. The nine-tiered, terraced landscape, eroded by wind and snow throughout the seasons and carved by rivers, imbues every inch of rock with the weight of time. Gone are the gentle embraces of verdant mountains and clear waters; here lies the rugged grandeur of the northern wilderness—desolate, magnificent, and majestic, a breathtaking natural beauty in its own right. Standing on the viewing platform, the vast Gobi Desert stretches to the horizon, with the river meandering through the valley, its shallow flow gently smoothing the cracks in the earth. A long, howling wind sweeps across the rugged cliffs, dispelling all the anxieties of the journey. Beneath the blue sky and white clouds, the rugged canyon and the clear sky reflect each other; the vastness of heaven and earth makes one feel insignificant, and all worries are dissolved by the immensity of the mountains and rivers. Dushanzi Grand Canyon is an epic masterpiece of nature, a testament to the grandeur of northern Xinjiang. Unadorned and unrefined, it stands against the backdrop of millions of years of history, its spirit defined by the vast wilderness and towering mountains. This initial journey to the canyon allowed me to understand the majestic vastness of Northwest China and encounter the most healing freedom and openness.

The Duku Highway, also known as the Dushanzi-Kuqa section of National Highway G217, is hailed as a scenic highway traversing the Tianshan Mountains. Stretching over 500 kilometers, it cuts across the entire Tianshan range, connecting northern and southern Xinjiang, and is also a breathtakingly heroic road. The highway winds its way through towering mountains, traversing numerous snow-capped passes, offering breathtaking views of canyons, glaciers, forests, grasslands, and deserts – perfectly embodying the saying "experience all four seasons in a day, and different weather every ten miles." Starting from Dushanzi in northern Xinjiang and heading south, the scenery changes dramatically, passing through Qiaerma, Nalati, Bayinbuluke, and finally Kuqa in southern Xinjiang, with countless famous scenic spots strung along this route. Due to snow and ice, the Duku Highway is not open year-round, only accessible for a few months each year, and may even be temporarily closed if you're unlucky. The mountain roads are treacherous, with numerous bends, and the weather in the mountains is unpredictable. Even in the height of summer, the high-altitude sections remain bitterly cold; be sure to bring warm clothing and drive with caution. This highway is not just a passageway; it is itself the most spectacular scenery of the entire Xinjiang trip. Only by driving through the Duku Highway can one truly understand the magnificence of the Tianshan Mountains. It is a must-visit destination for countless self-driving enthusiasts.

The site where the first oil field was discovered in Karamay, though abandoned, is significant as a tourist attraction. Visitors can see the crude oil bubbling from the wells, which is quite interesting, and also get a sense of the once bustling oil extraction activity.

After purchasing your ticket at the visitor center, those who enjoy hiking and have the stamina to spare can opt for the shuttle bus ticket. After arriving at the parking lot, walk about a kilometer to the left to reach the third shuttle bus stop, where you can enjoy camel rides. If you're curious, let the camel driver take you through the thousand-year-old poplar trees—a truly unique experience! The poplar trees in northern Xinjiang are in full bloom around National Day. Don't miss out!

The temperature difference between morning and evening is large in Duku. It is cooler at night, about 20 degrees. You can enjoy the delicious food and beautiful scenery. The wonders of nature are fully displayed here. Come quickly. There will be no good scenery when it is cold.

How can you not visit the Devil Couple when you come to Devil City? There are many scenic spots along the way, but most of them are named because they are very similar in shape, such as the Sphinx and the Titanic. However, on a pile of earth, you can see two different figures from different angles. Such a masterpiece is really rare. After coming here, your vision will be broadened a lot. Looking at one earth ball after another and one shape after another, it is inevitable that you will sigh at the magic of nature.

Here you can see the Yadan landform and Populus euphratica forest, and there are eight sections of road that pass through water. It is quite interesting to drive the car through the water. Compared with the Devil City, there are actually more things to see, Yadan landform + Populus euphratica forest + wetland + meadow, and the sunset is also very vast. The key is that there are very few people!!! The shuttle bus goes around for about an hour. When you want to stop, tell the driver that you can take pictures of the Populus euphratica forest as you like. There are few people and you have the freedom.

It's a worthwhile attraction. We rented a taxi in Wusu to get there. When we arrived at the scenic area parking lot, the driver took us to the site of my country's first oil well. From there, we climbed up the mountain to reach the mud volcano. The slope is gentler from there, so you don't have to climb those six or seven hundred steps.